[thelist] Let's Discuss Ecommerce Enabled Sites...

[aardvark]

> From: "Michele Foster" <michele at wordpro.on.ca>
[...] 
> Adrian, I had forgotten about the fluctuations, think I would remember
> with all my cross-border shopping of years ago.  <G>

yeah, crossing borders brings all sorts of ramifications...

> As a web developer/designer, is this part of our *job*?  I mean,
> shouldn't the client be doing this?  Making sure all the due diligence
> has been taken care of, with respect to county taxes, state taxes,
> etc.?  I don't mind mentioning a few things to them, but I think it
> should be the client's job/responsibility to figure out what the
> situation is with their particular case.  I just want the rate(s) and
> the variables to who does get charged.

depends on how you pitched it, what they expect, and what the 
contract says... you should always cover your keister by asking 
them (in writing, or some other legally admissable format) if the info 
they've given you to implement is accurate... this is assuming 
you've asked them to handle the legwork on figuring shipping and 
the like.... you need to make sure that they can't come back and 
blame you if the fed comes down on them...

in general, my level of support is on a client-by-client basis... some 
know very well what's up, some don't and you have to hold their 
hand... but either way, if you are providing the info, make sure it's 
accurate, and that you are legally protected in case you screw up 
(errors & omissions insurance is A Good Thing)...

> Can one of you 'mericans confirm something for me please.  If a
> customer orders a product from State A and lives in and has it shipped
> to State B, do they NOT have to pay state tax?

for the most part, correct... the customer only pays tax if the state 
in which he/she resides (read: has it shipped) also has a chunk of 
physical presence of the vendor... but there are oddities, which you 
should check...

as an example, people in new york here could buy Gateway 
machines sans sales tax for years... then they opened those 
Gateway stores nearby and those people who used to buy their 
machines online suddenly had to pay sales tax... in that case, 
they alienated their online customers (not related to this 
discussion), and this is only assuming you'd actually buy a 
Gateway, which would be a pretty daft thing to do IMO...

> Oh my, aren't taxes fun!!!!

yep.

btw, e-commerce for not-for-profits is a walk in the frigging park...